A massive crash involving dozens of riders decimated stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday, resulting in the race being temporarily neutralized. The accident occurred on wet roads in Bulgaria, 22 kilometers from the finish line, as the peloton slid into metal guardrails.

Jay Vine was one of the most severely injured and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. His teammates Antonio Morgado and Adam Yates were seen walking around covered in mud and blood but managed to remount their bicycles. UAE Emirates XRG later announced that Marc Soler was also forced to withdraw from the race. This was a significant setback for the team, which includes the renowned cyclist Tadej Pogačar.

Other riders, including Canadian hope Derek Gee-West and his teammate Max Walscheid from Lidl-Trek, were also involved in the crash but were confirmed by their team to be unhurt. Pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard and the pink jersey holder Paul Magnier managed to avoid the chaos.

As the peloton regrouped and medics tended to the fallen, officials quickly neutralized the race. Racing resumed several kilometers later, with Guillermo Thomas Silva of XDS Astana winning the hilly final in Veliko Tarnovo.

Saturday marked the second consecutive day that the Giro d’Italia has been affected by crashes, following a pileup just 600 meters from the finish line on the opening stage the previous day.

Stay tuned for further reports, reactions, and medical updates from the stage.